Just a teaser image of one of the Dominion's new toys while I work on the next map. I couldn't get guncam to work (it kept giving me weird grainy colors) so you don't get to see the full explosion, sorry. I messed with the flingy so you can actually do bombing runs. (That is, you can attack basically without slowing down if you move right after attacking. Think mutalisk micro, only much easier because of my meddling.)

The projectile hits the ground, bounces up, spins around spawning 5 blasts around it, then crashes into the ground and explodes for a double-damage finale.

EDIT: Actually, I'm gonna attach the script because why the hell not. Load it up for yourself and see it in action!

Mission 4 (Brownfield) is complete. As I said before, Mission 4 was originally a B&D level where you controlled Year 2 Dominion forces against the UED and Zerg, and Mission 5 would be a defense mission along the same lines. Both of those seemed boring, so I combined them into one mission and took out the B&D elements. Woo!

Foreshadowing!

Hey, it's that plot device the Thunderchild!

On a more map-design-esque note, the first part of this map basically gives you a bunch of units strewn about the map that you have to bring to the nexus. I tried to set it up so that you could in theory just plow through with no regard to the survival of the unit groups, and still have a decent amount of guys left over. On the other hand, you can be clever and use unit abilities and stuff and save a whole bunch more units, making the defense part much easier. (IE, using spider mines here to take out the zerg horde and save some much-needed medics).

It's a 15 minute defense marathon. Your base has 4 openings, there are 6 enemy ground spawn points (3 each for terran and zerg) and 3 air spawns (all zerg).

Phaika doesn't fuck around. You'll be fighting aug units and nightmares, and he'll throw some really terrifying shit at you towards the end.

I have to say, making this map was the most fun I've ever had with Staredit (or worldedit, for that matter).

After you bring in the first team, you're given control of the probes, the rest of the scattered units, and 1500 minerals. All you can build are pylons and photon cannons. (Pylons cost 100, cannons 25) Technically, you can start building your defenses whenever you want, but as soon as you do it starts a countdown until attacks start. There's no hurry to bring your units to the defense point.

This is the 'other' B&D level, although I imagine most people will forgo that aspect in the first one. Rachel and the UED prepare to assault the zerg-infested Aeolus communications station, and a shadowy Dominion special ops team offers their services.

Initially, this map used KC and the Sunshine Band's "I'm Your Boogie Man" as it's music. But then I changed it.

There's a secondary objective: you can destroy zerg command structures to gain augmented reinforcements. More or less, it's a reason to use the nifty new bombers you get.

Shown: A pretty good representation of the Nidhogg's attack.Not shown: the overlords full of ultralisks that arrived at my base seconds after this picture was taken.

More Nidhogg love.

I think I can get the next map done pretty quickly, it uses the same terrain as this one, but it will be much more trigger intensive.

So, SCMDraft automatically saves a backup of your map like every 10 minutes or so. If your map is big, it'll try to save a HUGE backup, which will cause SCMDraft to crash!!!!!!!!! Turn off the backup (I think in profile settings), and the crashes should stop!

Map 7 (Wrath of Poseidon) is done. But I don't have any screenshots. Maybe tomorrow. I'm reasonably sure that I can finish by Friday night, since map 8 just needs triggers and map 9 is just an epilogue. (with gameplay that can be cut if needed)